Court Strikes Out $8.8m Fraud Charge Against British Nationals

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Thursday struck out a
$8.8m fraud charge brought against two British nationals, Deepak
Khilani and Sushil Chandra by the Lagos State Government.
The fraud allegation was struck out by Justice Atinuke Ipaye
following a notice of discontinuance filed by Y.G Oshoala, Director
of Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP on behalf of Attorney
General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State.

Khilani and Chandra were charge in 2015 for allegedly defrauding
their Nigerian business partners Green Fuels Limited of $8.8
million in 2008.

The trial had been protracted since 2015 until recently when the
state notified the court of its plan to review the case.

During Thursday’s proceeding ,Prosecution Team led by Akin
George informed the court that the state had filed a notice of
discontinuance dated June 29, 2017.

George told the court that after reviewing the charges against
the defendants, the State Attorney General is of the view that
there was no need to pursue the trial.

“My Lord, we did informed this court at the last adjourned date
that the Attorney General is reviewing this matter. The outcome of
this review is that the state has filed a notice of discontinuance
of this trial. We pray the court to strike out this matter,” he
said.

Following the submission of the state prosecuting lawyer,
counsel to the defendants, George Oguntade, SAN, prayed the court
to strike out the charges against his clients.

Oguntade also urged the court to strike out an earlier arrest
warrant issued against his clients.

A twist was however added to the proceedings when a group of
lawyers led by one Ola Olayinka protested against the decision of
the Attorney General to discontinue the trial.

Olayinka told the court that the matter was of public interest
and that the Attorney General ought not to discontinue such matter
without giving any reason to the court.

However, in a short ruling, Justice Ipaye held that the
statutory powers to initiate and discontinue a criminal proceeding
in Lagos State lies with the Attorney General.

“The state represented by the Attorney General has the absolute
powers to initiate and discontinue a criminal proceeding. It is not
for this court to mitigate or investigate the exercise of this
legitimate powers. I see no reason why this charge should not be
struck out. This charge is hereby struck out,” she said.

The judge also struck out the warrant it had earlier issued for
the arrest of the two defendants.

” An order of arrest made by this court for the arrest of the
defendants dated April 3, 2017 is hereby vacated. This matter is
adjourned sine die,” she held.

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Thursday struck out a
$8.8m fraud charge brought against two British nationals, Deepak
Khilani and Sushil Chandra by the Lagos State Government.
The fraud allegation was struck out by Justice Atinuke Ipaye
following a notice of discontinuance filed by Y.G Oshoala, Director
of Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP on behalf of Attorney
General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State.

Khilani and Chandra were charge in 2015 for allegedly defrauding
their Nigerian business partners Green Fuels Limited of $8.8
million in 2008.

The trial had been protracted since 2015 until recently when the
state notified the court of its plan to review the case.

During Thursday’s proceeding ,Prosecution Team led by Akin
George informed the court that the state had filed a notice of
discontinuance dated June 29, 2017.

George told the court that after reviewing the charges against
the defendants, the State Attorney General is of the view that
there was no need to pursue the trial.

“My Lord, we did informed this court at the last adjourned date
that the Attorney General is reviewing this matter. The outcome of
this review is that the state has filed a notice of discontinuance
of this trial. We pray the court to strike out this matter,” he
said.

Following the submission of the state prosecuting lawyer,
counsel to the defendants, George Oguntade, SAN, prayed the court
to strike out the charges against his clients.

Oguntade also urged the court to strike out an earlier arrest
warrant issued against his clients.

A twist was however added to the proceedings when a group of
lawyers led by one Ola Olayinka protested against the decision of
the Attorney General to discontinue the trial.

Olayinka told the court that the matter was of public interest
and that the Attorney General ought not to discontinue such matter
without giving any reason to the court.

However, in a short ruling, Justice Ipaye held that the
statutory powers to initiate and discontinue a criminal proceeding
in Lagos State lies with the Attorney General.

“The state represented by the Attorney General has the absolute
powers to initiate and discontinue a criminal proceeding. It is not
for this court to mitigate or investigate the exercise of this
legitimate powers. I see no reason why this charge should not be
struck out. This charge is hereby struck out,” she said.

The judge also struck out the warrant it had earlier issued for
the arrest of the two defendants.

” An order of arrest made by this court for the arrest of the
defendants dated April 3, 2017 is hereby vacated. This matter is
adjourned sine die,” she held.